1994 04 00 OMNI - Military UFO Insiders

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue: April 1994
Volume: 50
Date: April 1994
Publisher: OMNI
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: $3.50
Cover Headline: THE UFO CONSPIRACY

This issue of OMNI, dated April 1994, focuses on the theme of 'The UFO Conspiracy,' marking '50 Years of Close Encounters.' The cover prominently features the OMNI logo, the main headline, and striking imagery of a sun-like object, rocky formations, and a flying saucer, hinting at the articles within: 'Russian Secret Saucer Research,' 'An Abductee Speaks,' and 'Inside the Military/UFO Underground: Breaking the Silence Barrier.'

Inside the Military UFO Underground

The lead article, "INSIDE THE MILITARY UFO UNDERGROUND," by A. J. S. Rayl, with photographs by David Michael Kennedy, explores the possibility of a secret military effort to investigate and understand UFOs, even after the official closure of Project Blue Book in 1969. The article presents the testimonies of three individuals who claim to have insider knowledge.

NATO Meets E.T. - Robert O. Dean

Robert O. Dean, a retired Army command sergeant major, claims that in the 1960s, NATO issued a classified report from its command center, SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe), stating that UFOs were real, of extraterrestrial origin, and had visited Earth. Dean, who served in the Supreme Headquarters Operations Center (SHOC), the NATO war room, alleges he read a detailed, 12-inch-thick NATO report on UFOs. He describes recurring sightings of large, metallic, circular objects over central Europe that appeared on radar and were under intelligent control. He recounts an incident in February 1961 where fifty such objects were spotted, leading to a global red alert. Dean states that this led to the establishment of a direct communication line between SHOC and the Warsaw Pact Command, a precursor to the hotline. He details reading the classified report, which he describes as "Cosmic Top Secret," funded by NATO money and distributed in only 15 copies. The report, based on extensive research involving various universities, concluded that UFO phenomena were not science fiction and included accounts of contact encounters. One appendix, "Autopsies," showed pictures of small, dead alien bodies recovered from a crashed disc in Germany.

The report's five main conclusions, as recalled by Dean, were: 1) Earth and humanity had been surveyed by four distinct extraterrestrial civilizations. 2) These visitations had occurred for at least 200 years. 3) The aliens were not hostile. 4) UFO appearances were deliberate demonstrations of their capabilities. 5) A program of contact was underway, progressing from flybys to landings and eventual contact. Dean expresses frustration with government deception and advocates for the public to know the truth.

Bob Lazar Says He Studied an Alien Propulsion System for the U.S. Military

Bob Lazar, a self-proclaimed independent contract scientist and businessman, claims to have worked as a propulsion-system engineer in late 1988 and early 1989 on Project Galileo at the Nellis Air Range in Nevada. He alleges that his task was to study the propulsion systems of nine disc-shaped extraterrestrial craft acquired by the U.S. government. Lazar describes being flown to a facility known as 'S4' near the Papoose dry lake bed, where he was briefed on advanced propulsion systems. He worked on the reactor and gravity-propulsion system of one disc, approximately 15 feet tall and 52 feet in diameter, made of a brushed stainless steel-like material with no visible seams or rivets. He notes the craft had tiny seats, a curved interior, and a reactor that produced antimatter. Lazar states the craft used element 115 as fuel and for gravity amplification, allowing for distortion of time and space. He recalls seeing pictures of discs and information from back-engineering research. Lazar also mentions that the craft reportedly came from the Zeta Reticuli star system and that aliens had been coming to Earth for 10,000 years to accelerate human evolution. His security clearance was revoked after he experienced marital problems, which he believes was used as a pretext. Lazar felt compelled to share his story, fearing he would be silenced, and contacted George Knapp at KLAS-TV. He later faced legal issues related to a brothel investment, which he believes discredited him, allowing him to continue his work with UFO organizations and lectures.

Baffled at Bentwaters - Col. Charles I. Halt

Col. Charles I. Halt, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, recounts his investigation of anomalous objects in the skies over Rendlesham Forest in southern England in late December 1980, while serving as deputy base commander at Bentwaters Air Base. He describes two separate sightings. The first involved a red, sunlike light with a black center moving through trees, leaving behind three distinct indentations in the ground. The second sighting, two nights later, involved three white, elliptical objects with colored lights moving in the sky. Halt documented these events and sent a report to the British Ministry of Defense. He expresses a desire for the truth to be revealed, stating he has received no financial benefit from sharing his story. An update notes that Halt's memo was released via FOIA, and an audiotape of the investigation has circulated within the UFO community. Halt claims to have been harassed by UFOlogists and fanatics, and that media coverage has sometimes been inaccurate, particularly regarding claims of holographic aliens.

#### Critics' Corner on Halt's Account

UFO skeptic Philip Klass suggests the phenomena described by Halt could be explained by the Orford Ness lighthouse beacon and bright celestial bodies. UFO investigator James McGaha offers a more detailed skeptical analysis, correlating the events with the re-entry of a Russian satellite (Cosmos 746), a fireball, and the response of a British police car, suggesting the indentations were rabbit diggings and Geiger counter readings were background radiation. He argues that no radar or civilian reports corroborated Halt's claims.

Russian Secret Saucer Research

While not detailed in the provided text, the cover indicates an article on "Russian Secret Saucer Research," suggesting a focus on Soviet or post-Soviet investigations into UFOs.

An Abductee Speaks

Similarly, the cover mentions "An Abductee Speaks," indicating a personal testimony from someone who claims to have been abducted by aliens.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's editorial stance, as expressed in the introductory text, is one of cautious skepticism, emphasizing that extraordinary tales require extraordinary proof, which is not always furnished within its pages. However, OMNI presents these stories, allowing readers to decide for themselves whether they are "ravings of demented hoaxers and madmen or revelations of truth." The recurring themes are government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena, the potential existence of advanced extraterrestrial technology, and the military's involvement in investigating and possibly concealing this information. The issue champions the idea that the public has been deceived and that the truth about UFOs is a critical issue of our time.

FAQ

• What was the 'Project Blue Book' investigation? Project Blue Book was a 16-year U.S. Air Force investigation of UFOs that concluded in 1969, with the government officially stating it had abandoned interest in extraterrestrial flying discs.
• What is the 'Inside the Military UFO Underground' article about? This article presents the stories of three individuals who claim to have glimpsed evidence of a decades-old government cover-up regarding UFOs, including a secret military underground investigating alien craft.
• What did Robert O. Dean claim about NATO and UFOs? Dean claims that in the Sixties, NATO issued a classified report confirming UFOs were real, of extraterrestrial origin, and had visited Earth, based on his review of a detailed report at SHAPE.
• What is Bob Lazar's claim regarding extraterrestrial technology? Bob Lazar claims he worked as a propulsion-system engineer on extraterrestrial spacecraft being researched and tested at the Nellis Air Range in Nevada, focusing on their reactors and gravity-propulsion systems.
• What was the Rendlesham Forest incident investigated by Col. Charles I. Halt? Col. Charles I. Halt investigated anomalous objects in the skies over Rendlesham Forest in late December 1980, witnessing a strange light and triangular metallic objects, and documenting findings that were later released.